The Bulls legend seems to think it may have played a part. Pippen was invited to play himself in the season finale of the firefighter drama two and a half years after posting a photo of himself and his wife, Larsa Pippen, with “Chicago Fire” star Taylor Kinney on Instagram, along with the caption “Enjoyed meeting the cast of Chicago Fire tonight. When is my cameo?”

The episode airs Tuesday.

“Someone must have remembered me saying those words,” Pippen said April 24 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel shortly before filming his elevator scene there. “I’ve had the chance to meet the cast before. Maybe someone brought my name up again. To be a part of one of the top shows on TV is an opportunity you don’t want to turn down. It’s good it finally came around for me. (‘Chicago Fire’) is filmed here in the city of Chicago -- a place where I have a lot of great fans. This is an opportunity for me to piggyback a little off of their fan base as well.

“I’m not a big TV guy, but I enjoy watching ‘Chicago Fire.’ It’s a great show. You don’t have to watch every episode. The episodes have a lot of excitement and drama in them. It’s a show that, if you miss part of it, you can jump in the middle of it and catch up.”

This isn’t the first time a Chicago sports star has appeared on “Chicago Fire.” The Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook made cameos on the show last season.

Pippen said he enjoys making cameos in films and TV shows and hopes to do more acting in the future. His acting resume includes a cameo on an April episode of ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat” and an appearance on NBC’s “ER” that was so long ago, he doesn’t remember what he did in the scene. And then there was the time he lent his voice to Fox’s “The Cleveland Show” in 2010.

“I enjoy it,” Pippen said. “They tend to keep it pretty basic for me. I don’t need a whole lot of acting experience. I play myself in most of the scenes. I always look forward to the end result.”

Pippen said his family is probably more excited about the “Chicago Fire” cameo than he is, but that’s not to say the seven-time NBA All-Star and six-time NBA champion isn’t thrilled.

“I’m excited too,” Pippen said. “I enjoy that my kids get to see me on TV. They didn’t really get to see my basketball career.”

Celeb dish: Kevin White has been a Bear for a minute and already has a sandwich named after him in Chicago. The White Lightning – which is inspired by the Bears’ first round draft pick and features turkey, pepperoni, pepper-jack cheese, jalapenos and habanero mayo on a poppy-seed bagel – is now available at Chicago Bagel Authority locations. “It's our May sandwich of the month, however it has been quite popular already and will probably be a keep,” said Chicago Bagel Authority owner Greg Gibbs. “If Kevin White is a hit, his sandwich will be a legend.”

Heads up: WWE CEO Vince McMahon, NFL Hall of Famer Andre Reed and R&B singer Trey Songz are scheduled to attend the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 25th Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Wednesday at the Hilton Chicago hotel. ... The third annual Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation Cook-Off For Cancer takes place Thursday at Revel Downtown. This has become one of my favorite fundraisers, mainly because of the food (picture upscale versions of ballpark food, created by notable chefs).

On the record: “They do that a lot of times with the rookies, so, it was pretty funny that they all came in (the clubhouse). I come back to the dugout and nobody was in the dugout ... They were all waiting over there by the (clubhouse) door. And then, kind of like a mosh pit, punching me and all that kind of stuff, so, yeah, it was fun.” – The Cubs’ Kris Bryant on seeing his teammates clear the dugout and hide in the clubhouse after he hit his first career homerun Saturday

By the numbers:

1. Row where Kanye West sat during Sunday's Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers game at the United Center. The Chicago rapper was seated next to Pippen and performed during the game.

$625,000. Price ex-Bears coach Marc Trestman recently paid for a three-bedroom town house in Glencoe. Trestman was named the Baltimore Raven’s offensive coordinator in January.

3.1. Length, in miles, of the Harry Caray 5K, which takes place May 30 in Grant Park. Participants in the self-timed race will receive an oversized pair of Caray’s trademark glasses.

Sightings: The Cavaliers’ LeBron James had dinner Thursday at Mastro’s Steakhouse. On Saturday, James and teammate Kendrick Perkins dined at RPM Steak. Also at RPM Steak Saturday: Kevin White, the Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa and Michael Wilbon (“Pardon the Interruption”). White returned to RPM Steak on Sunday. ... Model Kate Upton and boyfriend and Detroit Tigers star Justin Verlander dined May 3 at Chicago Cut Steakhouse, as they are known to do whenever the Tigers are in town. The Cubs' Jon Lester had dinner Thursday at Chicago Cut. ... The Bears’ Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal, Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson dined May 2 at the newly opened C Chicago and watched the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight at Timothy O’Toole’s Pub-Chicago with teammates Kyle Long and Robbie Gould. Long had lunch May 1 at Public House. Gould had dinner May 1 at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. ... Anthony Rizzo and Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun were on hand, separately, May 2 for the James Beard Foundation’s Beard and Boxing fundraiser at Rockit Bar & Grill. ... NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited Biggs Mansion May 1 with former Bears Richard Dent and Otis Wilson and smoked a Davidoff Royal cigar in the lounge. ... The New York Mets’ Matt Harvey dined Sunday at RPM Italian. ... The Cavaliers’ Shawn Marion celebrated his birthday Thursday at the newly opened Prime & Provisions. ... MMA legend Randy Couture dined May 4 at The Local Chicago. ... ESPN football analyst Todd McShay was spotted May 2 at Giordano’s on N. Rush Street.